EARL OF OXFORD

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 111, 1 August 1927, Page 7

EARL OF OXFORD

GIFT FROM FRIENDS INACCURATE REPORTS SOME LIBERALS PEEVED By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Saturday. In order to end speculations and inaccurate reports regarding the gift to the Earl of Oxford, the Marquess of Reading said in a statement: “A few of the Earl of Oxford’s friends and political admirers, irrespective of party, wished to offer a gift in the form of a capital sum and a life income, in appreciation of his public services. “The Earl of Oxford expressed his willingness to accept such a gift, and the following contributed: —Baron Aberconway, Earl Beauchamp, Baron Beaverbrook, Viscount Cowdray, the Earl of Derby, Viscount Devonport, Lord Inchcape, the Marquess of Lincolnshire, the Marquess of Reading, Sir Abe Bailey, Sir Alfred Mond, Sir John Simon, the Hon. Peter Larkin, Mr. Bernhard Baron, Mr. James de Rothschild. “The Earl of Oxford could have

made a fortune at the bar, but he sacrificed it for an unremunerative political career. He could have taken the pension provided for ex-Ministers, but he would have been obliged to sign a statement to the effect that he was in strained circumstances." It had been stated that he could not do this because he was in receipt of an annuity from a peer, who, however, cued recently, without making provision for its continuance, thus rendering necessary the intervention of the Earl of Oxford’s friends. A section of the Liberals made complaint about the Earl of Oxford receiving benefits from Tory peers. This provoked a retort from Lord Beaverbrook: “If this be the objection why didn’t the Liberals look after him themselves. Heaven knows, he has done enough for them.” —A. and N.Z.